Automatically adjustable bushing for steering wheel stems



H. MARLEs April 23, 1935.

AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BUSHING FOR STEERING WHEEL STEMS Filed Oct. 5,19:51

M aINVEN'I'OR I 777 a, es"

' ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 23, 1935 I a? 1' I UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICEAUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BUSHING FOR STEERING WHEEL STEMS Ienry Marlee,DetroiflMich assignor to Gemmer Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich acorporation of Michigan j Application ct0ber'5, 1931, SerialNo.'567,078

, 2 Claims. (Gl.'30 8-'--71) v The invention relates to bushing bearingsfor in Figure 3 in which I is an outwardlyextending supporting therotary stems of steering mecha-' flange in the upper end of the-member A,ipenisms in the steering posts. It is the object of ripherallyscrew-threaded to receive an internally the invention to obtain aconstruction that will threaded collar J. The collar J is of an internal5 compensate first, for variations in sizes of tubes diameter to'fitover the steering post B to which 6 used in the original steeringassembly and second, it may be locked in different positions ofadjustthat will automatically adjust to compensate for ment by means ofa set screw K. The upper end wear so that at all times the constructionis free of the collar J has an inwardly extending flange from lostmotion or rattle. With this object in L which forms the abutment for thedished wash- 10 view the invention consists in the construction er Gand. is further provided with an upwardly 10 as hereinafter set forth.extending flange M adapted to fit within a recess In the drawing: in thehub H. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a As has been stated,the tube from which the portion of the post and stem of a steeringmechsteering stem E and post B are formed will vary anism; slightly indimensions and to facilitate the fitting 15 Figure 2 is a cross sectionon line 2-2 of Figof the member A within the post B I provide the ure 1.former with a series of longitudinally extending Figure 3 is a sectionsimilar to Figure 1 showribs A shown in Figure 4 with grooves orrelieved ing a modified construction, and portions A therebetween. Thuswhen the mem- Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the elements ber A isdriven into a tube B slightly under size 20 used in Figure 3. therelieved portions A will permit of the slight In the manufacture ofsteering gears it is usual flattening of arcs in the tube to accommodatethe to employ commercial drawn steel tubing for the member A Also as themember A is preferably rotary stem which is attached to the hand wheelformed of a die casting of relatively soft metal and for thenon-revoluble post or column in the ribs A may be slightly flattened ordeformed 25 which said stem is journaled. As such commerin entering asmall diameter tube. cial tubing can not be maintained exactly uni- Inassembling the parts the steering stem E form in size it is impossibleto use a standard being arranged in concentric relation within the sizerigid bushing which will exactly fit both post B, the member A is theninserted Within said )0 the inner and outer diameters. Consequently itport as just described. The split member D is is necessary either toform a loose fit, if a bushthen placed upon the stem and moved downingof rigid material is employed, or to form said ward into engagement withthe member A, after bushing of a resiliently compressible material whichthe spring washer G is sleeved upon the that Will compensate forvariations in the size stem. With the construction shown in Figure 1 5 fthe tubing- Y mproved construction has the abutment for the washer G isformed by the the advantages of a rigid ng combined with hub H of thesteering wheel which latter is first the adjustment of the Compressibleearings and forced downward upon the stem E to place the is constructedas follows: washer under the desired initial tension and is A is an a amember for fitting W t e then secured to the stem to maintain this ten-4 Steering D B and which is Provided With a sion. However, thepreferable construction is conical inner surface C. D is another annularho n in Figure 3 where after the placing of the member which has anexternal conical face and washer G upon th st th member J is l dinternally is of a diameter which will receive o the stem and screweddown on the threaded a Stee Stem E 0i a li e- The member flange I. Toabut the flange L against the washer D however, a y Split at F 0 a toPermit the collar is screwed down to give the desired ten- 45 ofcontraction by an axial movement of the same sion to the washer G afterwhich the parts are in relation to the member A. This axial movesecuredin this position by tightening the set ment is accomplished by theresilient pressure of screw K. The initial tension of the washer G adished washer G which in the constructi n is sufficient to close thesplit bearing D about the shown in Figure 1 is arranged between theupper stem E in case the latter is under size while in 50 end of themember D and the hub of the steering case of an over size tube E themember D will wheel H. I prefer, however, to provide an abutbe expandedwhen placed in engagement therement which is adjustably positioned inrelation with. In either case, when wear occurs in the to the member Aand is independent of the bearing the spring washer G will automaticallysteering column E. Such a construction is shown take up the lost motion,moving the member D 55 downward within the member A and contracting thesame about the stem E.

The construction as described is simple and inexpensive to manufacture,effectively prevents rattle, is easily assembled and will automaticallycompensate for wear.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of a stationary tube, a rotatable shaft therein, anannular member within said tube surrounding said shaft, said memberhaving a conical inner surface and a ribbed outer surface and beingformed of relatively soft material permitting of the deformation of saidribs when pressed into a tubular member of slightly smaller internaldiameter, said annular member also having an outwardly extending portionhaving a shouldered engagement with the end of said tube andperipherally threaded, a radially split annular member sleeved upon saidshaft having a conical outer surface bearing against the conical surfaceof said first mentioned member, an annular member outside said tubeinternally threaded to engage the threaded portion of said firstmentioned annular member, and also provided with an inwardly extendingportion forming a shoulder and a resilient dished washer having itsinner portion bearing against said split conical member and its outerportion bearing against the shoulder on said outer annular memberwhereby the rotary adjustment of said outer annular member will placesaid resilient dished washer under tension to press said split conicalmember into the conical outer member.

2. The combination of a stationary tube, a retatable shaft therein, anannular member fixed within said tube surrounding said shaft, saidmember having a conical inner surface, an inner member sleeved on saidshaft and having a conical outer surface for fitting within said annularmembensaid inner member being radially split to permit of contraction indiameter, a dished resilient washer surrounding said shaft and hearingagainst the large end of said inner member, and a member accessible fromoutside said tube forming an abutment for the opposite side of saiddished resilient washer, said member being adjustable relative to saidtube to place said washer under tension and to thereby press said splitconical member into said outer conical member to take up clearancebetween the same and said shaft.

HENRY MARLES.

